It can be very difficult to determine the cost of a speeding ticket in New York state as there is no fine issued until you are convicted of a particular violation or crime. There are also other costs that may apply including DMV Assessment fees, surcharges, and other penalties. It can all get very confusing very quickly, so here we have tried to make it all a little easier to understand.

The Easy Answer

• Speeding (1-10mph over limit): from $145.00 – $235.00
• Speeding (11-20mph over limit): from $175.00 – $385.00
• Speeding (21-30mph over limit): from $175.00 – $385.00 (+ $300.00 minimum)
• Speeding (31-40mph over limit): from $265.00 – $685.00 (+ $450.00 minimum)
• Speeding (41+mph over limit): from $265.00 – $685.00 (+ $675.00 minimum)

safeny.gov

(Or see our Traffic Violations Fine Chart)

The Better Answer

The New York Division of State Police’s website sums it up nicely:

The New York State Police does not determine the amount of any fine that might be charged if a motorist is convicted of a traffic offense. There are minimum and maximum penalties that are established by law, and the judge presiding over the case will make the final determination of any penalty to be imposed. Questions regarding potential penalties should be referred to the Court having jurisdiction over the specific case.  -troopers.ny.gov

Many, many clients call our office every day wondering what the fine amount will be for the speeding or other traffic ticket they received. I suspect most are trying to figure out if it will be more expensive to just plead guilty and pay the fine or hire a lawyer. But that type of math often gets people into trouble as the fine is not the only penalty assessed when you plead guilty to or are convicted of speeding in New York.

Speeding Ticket Penalties & Fines

Believe it or not, “speeding”, a violation of Section 1180 of New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law is punishable by up to 30 days in jail.  While that doesn’t usually happen, you can always count on the DMV to add points to your driving history. The New York Department of Motor Vehicles keeps track of all traffic convictions within the limits of New York state through the Driver Responsibility Program.

The Driver Responsibility Program applies to all drivers who operate, or operated, a motor vehicle in the State of New York, regardless of the state the motorist is licensed in.  The purpose of the Driver Responsibility Program is to prevent the repeated behavior of problem drivers and to improve traffic safety.

dmv.ny.gov

This program also applies to drivers from Ontario and Quebec as well as visitors from other countries with international or foreign driver licenses and does not exclude those driving without any valid license. It accomplishes its purposes by providing for additional fees, called Driver Responsibility Assessment fees, and license suspensions once a certain amount of points are accumulated in any 18 month period. The DMV explains this point system as follows:

If you receive six points on your driver record during a period of 18 months, the annual assessment is $100. The minimum amount that you must pay each year is the annual assessment. The total assessment for the three years is $300. If you receive more than six points on your driver record during a period of 18 months, the annual assessment is $25 for each point more than the original six points. The minimum amount that you must pay each year is the annual assessment. The total assessment for the three years is $75 for each point more than the original six points.

This is explained a little more simply in our “Easy Answer” at the top of the page. If you receive 11 points or are convicted of three speeding ticket convictions within 18 months DMV will also suspend your license. Each U.S. state and Canada has its own policies for how traffic convictions committed outside of their borders are handled in their own jurisdiction, so you may also want to consider any additional penalties or complications from your home state or country. Failure to pay these assessment fees or obey a license suspension can result in criminal charges and additional penalties.

Reduced Fines When Your Ticket is Reduced?

Another factor in the total cost of a ticket that people sometimes fail to consider is the possible reduction of charges. Because the final amount of your fine depends almost entirely on the section of law that you plead guilty to or are convicted of committing, agreeing to a reduction of charges – such as a lower speed, non-speeding ticket, or 1201 parking ticket – can dramatically reduce how much a New York speeding ticket costs.

For example, say you get a speeding ticket for traveling 83mph in a 65mph zone, a 4 point offense. If you plead guilty, you will be assessed a fine plus state surcharge of anywhere from $175.00 to $385.00. If you plead not guilty, however, and are able to secure a plea bargain to a 0 point parking violation then your fine would be anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 with no state surcharge. Typically, the less serious the conviction, the lower the fine and other penalties. The video below, taken from a real life case in the Village of Ravena in Albany County, explains this concept:

Auto Insurance Costs

Every automobile insurance provider has their own policies and maintains separate point systems from the New York DMV. For accurate information about how a speeding ticket conviction or other traffic infraction may affect your particular policy, please consult your agent. Listed below are links to answers provided by major auto insurance companies to common questions about what affects the price of car insurance.

• What Affects Car Insurance Price? (StateFarm)

 Legal Fees & Court Expenses

If you will be hiring an attorney to represent you, legal fees are another element you must factor into the equation.  There are thousands of New York traffic lawyers to choose from, each with varying degrees of expertise and experience and charging various fees for their services. In any case, a lawyer will likely be much more familiar with not only local traffic laws, but understand the legal process of the courts and how to best pursue a course of action. Most offer free consultations by phone or in person. When speaking with them, be sure to share the details of your entire case including any complications like a suspended license, a motor vehicle accident involved, pending criminal charges, etc so that they may best assist you.

In the case that you decide to have a trial of your case, you may be advised or required to personally appear in court. Every court has its own schedule and days when traffic cases are heard, so you may have to schedule time off from work or school and make arrangements to attend. If you live far away from the court, you will also want to consider the price of gas, vehicle maintenance, and traveling time.

How Much Will My Speeding Ticket Really Cost?

Only after calculating the costs of fines, state surcharges, Driver Assessment fees, auto insurance policy increases, travel expenses, attorney fees, and precious time spent traveling and/or researching and preparing your case, only then can you get an accurate figure of how much money you will really spend on a traffic ticket. The final costs will also depend largely on your course of action. If you choose to hire an attorney, you may have more costs up front, but pay less in penalties as well as secure yourself against future penalties. If you choose to represent yourself, you may save on legal fees but spend on travel fees and time off from work. Without experienced legal counsel, you may also end up paying far more in fines and other penalties. If you plead guilty to your original charges, you can avoid paying any legal fees but will likely pay higher fines and other penalties that will damage your driving history and make any future reduction of charges more difficult to secure. You can always search through our archives of Fine Notices from real cases in New York state to see how much other people in similar situations ended up paying.

Only you can decide what course of action is best for your particular situation, though.

If you will be seeking legal counsel, however, please consider our office for your representation. Attorney Randall Kehoe has been representing clients charged with traffic violations and misdemeanors in New York state for over 20 years. We offer affordable fees as low as $195.00 in most courts and appear on your behalf in most cases without you having to attend. We offer free consultations by phone, email, and in person at our office in downtown Albany. For a free consultation of your case, please contact us with the details of your case.